Magnets and electromagnets review

Learn about electromagnets and how they differ from regular magnets!

Electromagnets... How do they work? Read this passage. Then watch the video. Use ear buds if you have them.A bar magnet is made from magnet materials and has a magnetic field at all times. An electromagnetic is not naturally magnet and only has a magnetic field when electricity is passed through it. The bar magnet is what is termed a permanent magnet. This means that it is "always on" and can be used to do things like pick up paper clips. The electromagnet is created by looping a wire around an iron nail and attaching the ends of the wire to a battery. The current in the wire will cause the iron and wire to be a magnet. Electromagnets are found in doorbells, computers, audio speakers, and telephones. Only when the current is flowing will the electromagnet be operating. With the current switched off, the magnetic field around the coil of wire disappears, and the power of the electromagnetic disappears as well. Advantages of an electromagnet: they can be turned off and on by turning the current on and off. They can be made stronger or weaker by either changing the strength of the battery or by changing the number of wire loops. Compare and Contrast Use a T-chart to compare the differences between a magnet and an electromagnet.